Manchester United summer decision is a “travesty” and a huge loss, says former Red

One Manchester United transfer decision in the summer window is a “travesty” according to a former player.

The Reds completed the signings of Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee, and Manuel Ugarte this summer, finalising their additions to Erik ten Hag’s squad.

With these new arrivals, United have strengthened their team significantly but issues remain in the side that has won just one of their opening three Premier League games.

United also sold many players this summer partly due to the needs of overhauling the squad but also due to financial concerns as they spent around £200 million.

Scott McTominay was one player to leave for around £25 million to Napoli after spending over two decades at the club. He made over 200 appearances after coming through the youth academy.

While many believed it was the right move for the player and club, with Ugarte able to join afterwards, others were of the opinion that McTominay’s exit was a mistake.

Ten Hag also was not a fan of the exit, but those above him working under Sir Jim Ratcliffe had to think about the potential leeway his transfer would give them in a financial sense, especially since it was ‘pure profit’ due to him being an academy product.

Former United defender Phil Jones expressed his distain at the move while speaking on BBC Radio, explaining that it is a “travesty” that United needed to sell him for financial reasons.

“I’m gutted,” Jones said. “I love him. He’s a wonderful boy. He’s so good in and around the dressing room. I think he’s got so much more quality than people give him credit for.

“He’s a lot better technically than what people give him credit for. He arrives in the box at certain times and scores certain goals, as he showed last season for United and Scotland.

“I understand why he’s gone, in terms of the FFP (financial fair play rules), which I think is a bit of a travesty that we’re still having to sell homegrown talent because of FFP.

“Maybe it needs to be looked at. I’m devastated he’s gone. He was an important part of the team. It’s going to be a loss – it is a huge loss for the team. But I’m delighted for him.

“I texted him yesterday and wished him good luck. He’s excited about starting his new challenge. He’s going to a giant of a club in Napoli with Antonio Conte.”

Jones confirmed his retirement from football earlier this summer after an injury-ridden career at Manchester United.

He left the club as a player at the end of the 2022/23 campaign but stayed within the walls at Carrington to help coach the Under-16s and Under-18s teams, with a future ambition as a manager.

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